Chapter 77
Kassim reluctantly let his sister and British brother-in-law Fred go, and continued to sit alone by the window, feeling a little sulky.
Zheng Juyong walked over alone and talked with Kassim face to face for a long time. From time to time, he turned back and pointed in the direction of Dong Zhiqiao.
Dong Zhiqiao didn't know whether he should stand up. He whispered to Cui Shanshan, "Brother Zheng, were you referring to me? I also contributed to the arrest last night."
Shanshan held him down under the table. "I see Kassim's face isn't looking good. You don't know much, so don't go over and cause more trouble. We just had a falling out with him, and we don't know what he thinks of us. Let's wait and see."
Soon, Zheng Juyong and Kassim seemed to have finally reached an agreement. They stood up, shook hands with each other, and walked towards the door.
Zheng Juyong, acting as the middleman, explained the situation on Kassim's behalf. "Shanshan, Kassim is very grateful to Zhiqiao for their help this time. He didn't expect you, young as you are, to be so willing to let go of past grudges. He is willing to sign a longer-term contract with Nangang, as long as you don't mind the previous dispute. As for the impact of future tariffs on prices and the percentage of liquidated damages in the contract, you can have Manager Xu send him the quotation along with the new contract, and you can negotiate a reasonable range that is mutually acceptable."
Kassim smiled and nodded, extending his hands to Cui and Dong, as if to resolve their past grievances.
Cui Shanshan was momentarily stunned, not realizing that Mr. Zheng had just been advocating for Nangang. Dong Zhiqiao reacted quickly, ignoring the pain in his butt. He enthusiastically grasped Kassim's hand, "No problem! We weren't familiar with each other before, and it was always Brother Zheng who made the introductions. But now you understand us, and we understand you. It's like fighting, no acquaintance. From now on, we're all friends, haha! Friend, we are good friends! OK?"
Despite the language barrier, Dong Zhiqiao's directness and enthusiasm were infectious. Kassim, experienced and shrewd, had initially looked down on the young man, but now, feeling somewhat ashamed, he imitated Dong Zhiqiao's tone and replied with a smile, "OK! OK!"
Zheng Juyong: "Kassim has invested in a seaside resort in Bahrain. Today is the weekend, and he invited us to spend a day there. It can be regarded as his way of expressing some apology to you."
Dong Zhiqiao naturally appreciated this favor and agreed immediately.
Cui Shanshan said cautiously from behind, "Dong Zhiqiao, are you just going to agree to this? People like him will definitely lower our prices and liquidated damages in the future. We'll probably suffer losses if we do business with him. Do you want to discuss this with your father and my uncle?"
Dong Zhiqiao rarely got serious. "We exchanged two golden camels and two butt cheeks for this. Are you willing to let it go? When there's no food to eat, we have to chew the hard bones. As long as we have Kassim's long-term supply order as a guarantee, we can keep the boilers in the factory running. In the future, I can also use Kassim's influence to continue to expand other customers here. No matter how the situation changes, there will always be a profitable one. That's it!"
Cui Shanshan couldn't help but look at him with admiration. He was born with some courage and knew how to make long-term plans. He was very different from the empty-headed man he was in the past.
.....
On the south side of Bahrain, there is a small artificial island. The resort park invested by the Kassim family includes hotels, shopping malls and private sea parks. After explaining the details to the housekeeper, Kassim hurried away.
Dong Zhiqiao, seemingly unharmed, was eager to get into the outdoor pool. Cui Shanshan wouldn't allow it, so Dong Zhiqiao had no choice but to get Brother Liu and Zheng Juyong in the water with him. Cui Shanshan couldn't get angry in front of everyone, so she turned to Guan Ying and complained, "Sister Guan, look at them!"
Guan Ying lay on the beach chair, not caring about the men. This was the last day before school started, and she could finally relax. "Haha, Shanshan, don't count on me. I can't control anyone."
Cui Shanshan: "Mr. Zheng is also injured, and his eyes are still swollen... Brother Liu didn't sleep all night, so he should catch up on his sleep..."
Guan Ying teased her: "I thought you were worried about Dong Zhiqiao's butt."
Cui Shanshan: "His butt...Oh, Sister Guanguan!" Perhaps out of shyness, Cui Shanshan finally mustered up her patience and lay down.
After the men swam a circle, Dong Zhiqiao still felt it was not enough and wanted to pull Zheng Juyong to continue surfing. Brother Liu was running out of energy and went ashore first.
Guan Ying opened a bottle of soda for Brother Liu and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Liu."
"Hey, what's the hard work? I'm glad I can help you! It's just a coincidence. Lao Qin and I were off for a few days, so we went out for a drink in Bahrain. One day, we ran into Fred at the Golden Rose bar. Who knew that such a small thing could help Mr. Zheng so much? If you ask me, Mr. Zheng is really smart. After all, he is a big businessman!"
Cui Shanshan had also been curious about how the matter was settled, so she took the opportunity to inquire about the whole story: "Brother Liu, have you known that British man for a long time?"
Brother Liu took a sip of his soda. "Haha, this is a long story. When we first arrived in Dubai, Lao Qin and I accompanied Mr. Zheng to a Chinese restaurant. It was our first time entertaining Boss Kassim, and Kassim had Fred with him. Fred loved to drink, so for him, we took the risk and teamed up with the kitchen staff to secretly serve him some wine. Men, after drinking together, become friends! It was after we drank enough that day that we realized he was Kassim's future brother-in-law. Kassim intended to take him into the family business, but he wasn't interested. He did all this just to be with Sophia. He and Sophia had studied art together in the UK and came to Saudi Arabia to discuss marriage. He had no idea Sophia's family was so complicated. He was an artist, money was dirt, and he was a Christian, so how could he not drown his sorrows in alcohol? And he didn't expect that when we met again, he had already broken up with Sophia and was working as an oil rig worker off the coast of Bahrain! It just so happened that Mr. Zheng contacted me and Lao Qin after returning, and after hearing about this, he took notice... We've done a good deed, helping these two lovers get together!
After hearing this, Guan Ying sighed and said, "They are clearly from two different worlds, yet they have to overcome countless difficulties to be together. It was hard to part at first, but as time goes by, I don't know if it can last..."
Cui Shanshan was even more moved: "Mr. Zheng has put a lot of thought into our Nangang. In fact, he doesn't owe us anything, but he has done so much for us..."
Brother Liu also agreed very much and said with a smile: "That's true, what Guan Guan said is right: Don't look at Mr. Zheng's young age, but he has a genuine character and is generous in his work!"
Cui Shanshan looked at Guan Ying suspiciously.
Guan Ying couldn't recall when she had said such nice words, and wondered, "Did I say that?"
Brother Liu: "Why didn't you say that? Have you forgotten? Back at the Dubai docks, when Mr. Zheng had just arrived, he had some unpleasantness with us workers. You hurriedly flew back from China, and that's what you told us the moment we met, right?"
Cui Shanshan laughed and said, "Haha, Sister Guanguan, I thought you hated Mr. Zheng so much!"
Brother Liu joked while holding a soda, "Anyway, we workers really admire Mr. Zheng. He's a hundred times better than those high-ranking lawyers! No, I'm so sleepy. I can't be a light bulb for you young people anymore. I have to go back to the hotel to catch up on some sleep!"
After Brother Liu left, Cui Shanshan sat up excitedly: "Sister Guanguan, you and Mr. Zheng..."
Guan Ying said awkwardly, "We are really not what you think."
Cui Shanshan looked regretful. "Back in Guangzhou, I thought Mr. Zheng was a complete idiot and unworthy of you, Sister Guan Guan. But after going through these major events, I've seen how Mr. Zheng always manages to surprise us and has a unique way of dealing with people. Now, I think it's a shame that you two aren't together."
"We...we are brother and sister, haha." Guan Ying put on sunglasses, anxious to cover up. "By the way, did you bring sunscreen? Can you lend me some?"
[Genuine character, generous in handling affairs] Haha, did she really say such a thing? How did she say it in the first place?
The morning sunshine in Bahrain was warm. In order to avoid Cui Shanshan's constant questioning, Guan Ying pretended to close her eyes and rest, and before she knew it, she fell asleep comfortably.
When I woke up, I found the parasol had been moved over my head, providing a small patch of shade. Zheng Juyong was the only person sitting on the lounge chair beside me. He had two lemon slices clasped over his eyes, his hands resting on his head, and I couldn't tell whether he was asleep or awake...
"Pfft," she couldn't help laughing and said casually, "Now I'm really a salty egg superman."
"Guan Ying, from childhood to adulthood, why have you always built your happiness on my pain?" He was awake and heard it.
"Huh? Ultraman is praising you." Guan Ying was in a great mood after a good night's sleep. She didn't bother with him. She looked around and asked doubtfully, "Where are they?"
"Dong Zhiqiao's butt was bruised. Cui Shanshan scolded him and took him back to the room to apply medicine... They didn't sleep well last night, so they probably won't be out until the evening." He stayed to accompany her on purpose.
Guan Ying thought for a moment and sighed, "Until evening, a whole day? Young people..."
He yawned and said slowly, "Dong Zhiqiao wanted me to help him apply it. I thought what you said made sense, so I pretended that my eyes were inflamed and I couldn't see, and handed it to Cui Shanshan."
"Tsk, you, the matchmaker, helped two couples get together in one day. You are truly a great man!"
"Ha!" He yawned again.
"You're so sleepy, why don't you go upstairs and take a nap?"
"Move the parasol for you."
"...Actually, it doesn't have to be that troublesome."
"I'm Ultraman."
"Puchi! By the way, can lemon peel reduce swelling?" Guan Ying suddenly became curious about his eyes. Dong Zhiqiao's butt was bruised after soaking in sea water!
"I don't know, let's just give it a try." He might be really sleepy and didn't have the strength to speak.
Guan Ying, however, had rested sufficiently and regained her strength. She sat up and plucked a lemon peel: "Ah, why is it so red!"
Zheng Juyong's eyelids unexpectedly became less swollen after being exposed to sea water, but then turned completely red. At this moment, the sunlight was so dazzling that he couldn't even open his eyes a crack.
"It's okay. When I just got out of the swimming pool, my eyelids hurt so much that I rubbed them a few times..."
"How can you rub it with your hands? You're really inflamed. Do you have any common sense?"
"It's really okay."
"Brother! Inflammation is a minor matter. Once it infects your eyeballs, you'll go blind!" Guan Ying realized the situation was serious and pulled him up, only to find that he couldn't open his eyes at all. "Even in this state, you're still helping me move the parasol? You're courting death!"
Zheng Juyong stumbled and couldn't find a place to land. He wanted to open his eyes a little to see the road, but his eyelids were so painful and itchy that even if he could only open a small wrinkle, he would feel itchy and uncomfortable.
"Grab my shoulders!" Guan Ying put his hand on her shoulder and led the way.
Fortunately, the experienced housekeeper and pool lifeguard coordinated basic emergency care for Zheng Juyong, prescribing oral anti-inflammatory medication, fever-reducing patches for the eyelids, eye drops, a sun-blocking and waterproof eye mask—everything they could. The park, of course, did everything it could to ensure guest safety, but the ceremony was a bit grand, causing Zheng Juyong to wonder if he was actually going blind. His previously calm nerves suddenly became intense.
After taking medicine, using drops, applying patches and patching his eyes, Zheng Juyong passively became a "blind man".
"Guan, Guan Ying, I can't see anymore."
"It's strange you can see like this! What, are you scared? Didn't you just pretend you were fine?"
"I...I didn't think it was this serious."
Guan Ying was the opposite of him. She had been nervous before because he didn't take it seriously, but now that everything had been carefully handled, she had nothing to worry about. This, in turn, made Zheng Juyong relax. "Fortunately, it was handled promptly. After dinner, let's apply the medicine again and get a good night's sleep. It should feel better by tomorrow morning."
"But tomorrow morning, you'll be gone."
"You'll be fine tomorrow morning! Besides, Dong Zhiqiao and the others will be with you."
"I'm afraid of tomorrow..." Zheng Juyong grabbed Guan Ying's shoulders and followed her closely, being too cautious to say the second half of the sentence.
"What are you afraid of? If I say I'll be fine tomorrow, I'll definitely be fine!" Guan Ying opened the door and led him to the bed. "It's noon now, and there's nothing much to do outside. You should catch up on some sleep! Don't overthink it. I've already taken the anti-inflammatory medicine, so I'll be fine."
"What about you?" Zheng Juyong lay down obediently.
"I'll go shopping at the mall next door." Guan Ying thought she should buy some gifts to take back.
"How long will it take?" Zheng Juyong felt inexplicably uneasy.
"What do you care about me?" Guan Ying moved the chairs that might trip her to the corners one by one, and prepared to leave.
"...What should I do if I want to go to the bathroom?" Zheng Juyong guessed her location based on the sound of her voice and stretched out his hand as if asking for help.
"You can find your way to the bathroom by yourself. The layout of this room is the same as that of hotels in China!"
"You...you don't care about me anymore?"
"Please, you go to the toilet, how can I help you? Do you want me to help you take off your pants? The chairs have been moved away for you, just walk boldly, there are carpets here, it won't hurt even if you fall, you are Superman, why are you in a hurry... They have already given you so many medicines, maybe you don't have to wait until tomorrow morning, you will be fine in a while!" Guan Ying's voice was getting farther and farther away, and she walked resolutely and anxiously.
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